Annual festival rocks Houma

Sunday

HOUMA — Hundreds jammed out to music Saturday while supporting Louisiana’s wetlands, as the fifth year of a local festival to support coastal restoration continued in full swing.

“It’s our best turnout we’ve had,” said Tab Benoit, blues musician and president of the Voice of the Wetlands environmental group, which has hosted the gathering since its inception in 2003.

The three-day extravaganza of music, food, and fun is meant to celebrate and promote the culture and people affected by coastal land loss in south Louisiana and rally support for the coast across the country.

“We can’t do this ourselves as Terrebonne Parish or as the state of Louisiana,” said Benoit. “We have to get the people of the country on our side. We bring them here, show them what we can do. Then a piece of Houma is in their hearts forever.”

It comes in an eventful year for Grammy nominee Benoit, who brought his performance and the wetlands message to events at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in addition to a chock-full nationwide touring schedule. That enthusiasm — and the event’s foothold in the community — were reflected as more than a thousand people showed up for the festivities Friday night.

Saturday afternoon, couples, families and children — many dolled up in purple and gold for the evening’s football matchup between Louisiana State University and the University of Florida — sat along the front lawn of Southdown’s stately plantation home. Attendees enjoyed food and drink in folding chairs and even danced in the grass, while children bounced around in inflatable playgrounds in the background. A total of seventeen bands were on the lineup, including Benoit’s Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars.

“The weather’s perfect,” co-founder Tommy Lyons said. “It’s gratifying that the community seems to be looking forward to this event now. We try to make it a reflection of our culture.”

More than 200 volunteers pitched in to help run the three-day festival, which also included booths with educational and informational activities from local coastal-advocacy groups and the Nicholls State University biology department. This year, the festival also featured a live and silent auction, with the top prize as a 15-foot boat.

Organizers said this year also showed plenty of success in attracting fans beyond Houma, with around 20 volunteers from out of state.

Ron Walker, of Marrero, met Benoit a few weeks ago when he was playing a show at the American Royal Barbecue, a large-scale barbecuing competition in Kansas City, Mo. In addition to his brisket finishing 16th out of 475 entries, Walker also spent some time with Benoit, who invited him to the festival and the wetlands restoration cause.

Today, he was among the volunteers helping to cook hamburgers, jambalaya, shrimp etouffee and alligator sauce piquante.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “I think I’ll be here next year.”

Leo Brenkendorf, of Troy, Ill., was one of the out-of-staters who came into Houma for the weekend.

“We’re Tab fans,” he said, explaining he and his family started following the entertainer four or five years ago. “So far, we’re enjoying music and Cajun food at the festival and also took a swamp tour, getting a look at some alligators and eagles.

“We’re having a great time,” he said.

His wife, Dawn, added that being in Terrebonne helped them understand Benoit’s passion for the coast.

“We have to stay involved in this, speaking out about how important it is,” Benoit said. “It’s our job.”

The festival starts today at noon and runs until 10 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.

Staff Writer Kathrine Schmidt can be reached at 857-2204 or kathrine.schmidt@houmatoday.com

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